Baggage rack



July 29, 1941. rA. T. HAGERTY ETAL y BAGc-AGE RACK Filed Dec. 51, 1957 4Sheets-sheet 1 July 29 1941 A. T. HAGER'TY ETAL 2,251,050

BAGGAGE RACK Filed Dec. 51-, 195'? 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 29, 1941. A.TJHAGERTY ETAL BAGGAGE RACK Filed Dec. 5 1, 1957 4 sheets-sheep 5 I' 49Vj July 29, 1941. .p T, HAGERTY ETAL; i 2,251,050

-BAGGAGE RACK Patented July 29, 1941 t .UNITED STATES.; PATENT OFFICEBAGGAGE RACK v Andrew T. Hagerty and Lemuel L. Stewart, Elk? hart, Ind.,assignors to The Adlake Company, a corporation of Illinois ApplicationDecember 31, 1937, Serial No. 182,857

9 Claims.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a. baggage rack forcars, buses, ships that will receive and properly support lighting whichis suitable for use in cars having a wide variety of seatingarrangements and which allows the location of the light box to be placedat any desired point in the bottom of the rack to aiord the bestpossible distribution of light with relation to` seats or other areas tobe illuminated. f

In the v( iiawingse- (Cl. 24o-7.35)

.and the like, of simple and strong construction form of light fixtureespecially adapted foruse with the .ordinary bulb lamps Figs. 9 and 10are sections taken on the lines 9-9 and ill-i0 of' Fig. 8 respectively.

The baggage rack is supported by several brackets spaced atv suitableintervals and receiving between them the rack bottom sections.Intermediate brackets I are best shown in Figs;

' 1 and 3, where itappears that they have straddle Fig. 1 isaperspective view of a baggage rack embodying the invention, looking atit from below and with the left end thereofbroken away;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a light xture with the lid raised andparts broken away to show the interior; j

Fig. 3 is a perspective view looking downwardly on the rack, the leftend and intermediate portions being broken awayto reveal the interiorconstruction; i I Fig. 3a is a perspective view of an endl or coverplate;

Fig. a is a transverse section taken on the linel-- of Fig. 3; Y

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section of fragments of the basketrack including the right end, one intermediate bracket and a lightinglxture with portions of a rack bottom, the section being taken on theline 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 5 6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on the line 'l-i of Fig.4,-portion being broken away;

Fig'. 'la is a fragmentary view showing the connection between the endVbracket and the end rack section with the end plate applied;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an alternative legs I I, equipped withfeet l2, through which screws, or bolts I3 pass into the side posts orsome suitable reenforcements in the frame of the car, bus, ship, or thelike.

End brackets I4, as best shown in Figs. 5 and "l, are like theintermediate brackets It except that portions of the feet l2 are cutaway to make a closer fit against the adjacent wall or partition.r

vIn the space between adjacent brackets `there is -a rack bottomcomposed of front and rear bars IE and I6, connecting and connected by aseries of transverse ribs i1. The bars, in fact, are made of tubing andthe ribs .are made of bar stock, such as 10 B. W. guage band iron,punched adjacent to the ends to receive the bars i5 and I6 and pressedto clamp them in place.

rll'he rack bottoms are secured to the brackets by rods i8 insertedthrough the tubes forming the bars i5 and I6 andas shown in Figs.5 and7, each of the rods has one end reduced and threaded at I9 and the otherdrilled and tapped at 20 to correspond except at the right end of therack as shown -in Fig. "la in which the rod has projecting studs at bothends. The rods It are slightly shorter than the tubes through which theypass, and hence, when connected together, and fastened to the endbrackets by nuts- 2i, as shown, they serveto bind the whole tightlytogether, clamping the rack bottoms between brackets.

The rack structure thus formed is dressed up and masked on the front bymolding 22 of extruded aluminum. 'As appears best in Figs. 1, 3, i and6, the molding has a bottom ange 23 that is positioned beneath the outerends of the brackets lll and I4 and the transverse ribs Il. To the rightof this bottom flange *is an upwardly inclined flange 24' and at the topof the molding is a hooked ilange 25, near which,

on the inside, is a shoulder or seat 9 adaptedV inside to the rack. Asshown, this is done by two sets of fastenings. The end of each brackethas a thickened portion 26 provided with a hole to receive a fulcrum pin21, upon which is fulcrumed a fastening lever, or retainer bar 28, oneat each side of the intermediate brackets and one at the inside only ofthe end brackets. Each of the levers has a hooked arm 29 cooperatingwith the hooked ange 25 and an oppositely directed arm 3U secured to theange 24 by a screw 3l. In the practical manufacture the fulcrum pinseach have a knurled portion to be forced into the hole in thecorresponding bracket. Y

Between the brackets the molding 22 is secured to the outer bar I of therack bottom by means of a slightly different retainer bar, or lever 32(Fig. 4) and a molding clamp 33. The bar 32 has hooked end 34cooperating with the flange 25 and a laterally bent arm 35 cooperatingwith the outer bar I5 of the rack bottom. Obviously an arrangementsimilar to this could be used at the bracket in place of the lever 28 inorder to avoid the necessity of drilling into the molding 22.

The molding clamp has one end 3S bearing against the outer side of theflange 2l and the other end 31 bent to bear on the lever 32 adjacent toa shoulder 38. The two parts are drawn tightly together by a screw. 39and act to bind the molding to the intermediate portion of the rackbottom as well as give stiiness to upper portion of the molding.

The outer side of the molding is here shown as having reed ribs 4U, butit will be obvious that any kind of ornamentation and a great variety ofshapes may be used in place of that shown. .a

Each end of the baggagerack is iinished with a cast aluminum cover plate4I. secured to the outer side of the end bracket I I by lscrews I2.received in thickened portions I3. Adjacent to each of those portionseach plate has a pocket 4I to receive the nut or bolt at the end of theadjacent rod I8.

'I'he structure thus far described makes a complete baggage rack thathas found favor without regard to any lighting ilxtures. It, however,

vlends itself very easily to combination with lighting xtures carried bythe rack bottom in a position suited to the seating arrangement.

'Ihe rack bottom used in this illustration provides rectangular spacesbetween adjacent transverse ribs I1 and is easily combined with lightingfixtures of generally rectangular form, shown in perspective in Fig. 2.Such a iixture includes a rectangular metal box 45 equipped at thebottom with a large light pane l5 that may be treated or constructed todistribute the light according to the scheme in use.

The top, or cover, '41 of the xture is hinged at 48 so as to swingupwardly, as indicated in Fig. 2. This particular fixture is intendedfor use with tubular bulb lamps such as is illustrated at 49. Adjacentto the hinge 43 the lid is provided with a bracket 50 carrying a lampsocket 5I for thelamp I9.

Adjacent to its opposite end 'it is equipped with a spring clamp 52 tosteady the otherwise free end of the lam Above or back of the lamp thecover is equipped with a suitable reiiector 53 ilxedto it by screws 5I.

Adjacent to the bracket 5l carries a 'socket 58 for a night lamp 51.

small blue lamp or 55 at the rear end of the light box (Fig. 4)

for the lead-in wires 66 and Just above is an opening covered by plate61 having legs strad- 50 another bracket The inner side of the lid, orcover, M is prodiierent forms of dling the box (Fig. 3) to provideaccess to the interior of the conduit. The wiring, of course, is amatter of choice and likewise the location of the switches but, forconvenience; a switch for the present xture is shown at il.

Between the adjacent brackets there is iltted a piece of metal trim Ilhaving one ilange (Fig. 4) 10 inserted beneath a turned up ilange 1I onthe conduit, and another ange 12 secured to the wall -by screws 13.4'.Tliat gives the underside oi the device a nished appearance, asindicated best in Fig. 1.

Tubular bulb lamps are more expensive than ordinary lamps and some usersprefer the lat ter. They, however, require great depth of lightingiixture and a somewhat different structure. as illustrated in Figs. 8, 9and 10. This modiiled xture is also a rectangular metal box 1I. The lidor cover 15, however. instead of being flat, as l1 in the other form, isarched as indicated at 16 in Fig, 10, to provide clearance i'or thelarger lamps 11. and the arcuate reector 18 is tted into the arch.

The lamps 11 are mounted in sockets 13, carrled by brackets 80, adjacentto each end of the cover. The shield BI is provided with legs 82 havingfeet 83 spot-welded to the edges of the cover 15.

Both types of xtures are held closed by. screw fastening 8l, swiveled ina lip 85 on the cover and engaging a bracket 86 on the end of the xture.

Both types of fixtures are provided with shoulders 31, one adjacent toeach corner, made by striking out a portion of the wall and inserting aller plate on the inside. upon adjacent transverse ribs I1 in the rackbottom when the fixtures are in place. and they are fastened to thetubes I5 by arms Il, ilxed to the shoulders by screws I9.

In installing the device in a car, the conduit is iirst applied, one endbracket is then put in place, two rods I3 are fastened to the bracketand one rack bottom assembly slipped over them. a second andintermediate bracket is installed. a second set of rods Il inserted, andtightened put the proper amount of pressure on the iirst section of therack. This procedure is repeated to the end of the car when the endplates are applied and the trim set in between the brackets. Ii lighti'lxtures then inserted and the lead wires spliced to the main wires onthe conduit channel. Finally, the iront molding is applied in longlengths, usually two for each rack and the clamps set up. course, thisprocedure is suggestive and will nessarllybevariedasvariationsintheconstruction are made.A

Those skilled in the art will choose' or design rack bottoms anddinerent shapes and constructions of lighting fixtures to 'I'hese wallsrest are used they are.

. thereof by engagement housing conduit and each lamp being connectedsuit various conditions and personal preferences. In followingsubstantially the same construction shown, some will changel the form ofthe light fixtures and let them project below the ribs I1, making thetop ofthe xture ush with the top of the ribs i1; some will make the ribsof substantially the same vertical depth as thefixtures, and so on.

The illustration. however. is deemed sufficient to show how thesimplelorganizatlon provides a rack or a combined basket rack andlighting iixture that isvery adaptable.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a baggage rack, a rack bottom comprising front and rear parallellongitudinal edge members, means for supporting these members in spacedrelation, a plurality of uniformly spaced transverse members carried bythe front and rear longitudinal members, said bottom providing aplurality of adjoining Vsimilar substantially unobstructed open spaceseach .defined by two transverse members and the lfront and rear members,a lighting fixture comprising a lamp and casing therefor interchangeablyfitting said spaces-and supported by the rack in a certain selected oneof said spaces ing said selected space.

' 2. In a baggage rack, a rack bottom compris'- ing front and rearparallel' longitudinal edge members, means for supporting these membersin spaced relation, a plurality of uniformly spaced transverse memberscarried by the front and rear longitudinal members, said'l bottomproviding a plurality of adjoining similar substantially unobstructedopen spaces each defined by two transverse. members and the front andrear members, and lighting xtures comprising lamps and casings thereforinterchangeably fitting said spaces and supported incertain selectedones of the opposite sides of each casing with the transverse membersdeand substantially iill-v nnlng the space occupied by said casing andsubstantially filling said selected spaces.

3. In a baggage rack, a rack bottom comprising front and rear parallellongitudinal edge members, means for supporting these members in spacedrelation, spaced straight transverse members carried by the front andvrear longitudinal members, said bottom providing a plurality ofadjoining similar substantially unobstructed open oblong spaces eachdeiined by two transverse members and the front and rear members, andlighting xtures comprising lamps and oblong casings thereforinterchangeably tting said spaces so as to suba plurality of uniformlylstantially to close the same and supported in` certain selected onesthereoi so as to ll sub` stantially completed said selected spaces.

4. In a device of the class described, a longitudinal box housingconduit containing electric wires, brackets extending outwardly from theconduit, a rack bottom comprising longitudinal front and rear edge barscarried by the brackets and a plurality oi spaced transverse ribscarried by the front and rear bars extending generally parallel to thebrackets and providing an unobstructed open space on each side of eachrib defined by two ribs and the front and rear bars,

and electric lighting fixtures comprising lampsv and casings thereforinterchangeably fitting substantially all of said spaces and supportedby the rack in certain selected ones of said spaces, the casingsabutting against a wall of the box to the wires in said conduit.

5. In a baggage rack, a longitudinal conduit containing electric wiresand comprising a longitudinally extending box housing valong the rearedge of the rack. a rack bottom comprising a reary longitudinal memberadjacent to the con-l obstructed open spaces each dened by twotransverse members and the front and rear members, the spacesterminating atfthe conduit, a lighting fixture comprising a lamp andcasing therefor interchangeably fitting said spaces and supported by therack in a certain selected one of said spaces on the transverse` membersdefining same and substantially filling said selected space with one enddisposed closely adjacent to the conduit and being connected to thewires in said conduit.

6. In a baggage rack, a containing electric wires, a rack bottomcomprising a rear longitudinal member adjacent to the conduit and afront longitudinal memoer, means for supporting these two members inparallel spaced relation, a plurality of uniformly spaced transversemembers carried by the front and rear longitudinal members, said bottomproviding a plurality of adjoining similar substantially unobstructedopen spaces each dened by 7. In a baggage rack, spaced supportingmea-ns,

longitudinal front and rear edge members carried by said means and eachcomprising a plurality of connected sections whereby the rack may beextended through any length cfa vehicle body, a plurality of uniformlyspaced -transverse members carried by the front and rear membersproviding a plurality of adjoining similar substantially open spaceseach defined by two transverse members and the front and rear members,and a plurality of similar lighting iixtures comprisingl electric lampsand casings therefor interchangeably tting said spaces and supported incertain selected ones of said spaces and substannally filling saidselected spaces and having shoulders integral with the sides of thecasing engaged with certain of said transverse members whereby saidcasings are supported in certain selected ones of said spaces, andlocking arms removably attached to the casing.

8. In a baggage rack, a rack bottom comprising a longitudinal elementadapted to extend along and adjacent to the interior wall of a vehiclebody, a second longitudinal Ielement extending parallel to the first andspaced outwardly therefrom along substantially the outer edge ot therack, and a plurality of spaced parallel transverse elements connectingthe longitudinal elements and providing a plurality of similar,generally oblong open spaces between adjacent translongitudinal conduitgated box housing forming the rear wall Y or the baggage rack. a rackbottom comprising a. rear longitudinal memberl adjacent to the conduitand a front longitudinal member, means for supporting these two membersin parallel spaced relation, a plurality of uniformly spaced transversemembers carried by the iront and rear longitudinal members, said bottomproviding a. plurality of adjoining similar substantially open spaceseach defined by two transverse members and the front and rear members. alighting lixture comprising a lamp and casing therefor interchangeablyntting said spaces and supported by the rack in a certain selected oneot Said spaces and substantially iiliing said lselected space. saidcasing abutting the lower portion of said rear wall, and the lamp beingconnected to the wires in said conduit.

ANDREW T. HAGERTY. mit! l, L. ART

